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Malaysia Court Rejects Najib Razak’s House Arrest Bid Ahead of 1MDB Verdict

The ruling keeps the former prime minister in Kajang Prison pending an appeal.

Overview

  • High Court Justice Alice Loke ruled that the alleged royal addendum allowing home detention was not valid under constitutional requirements.
  • Najib, 72, has been jailed since August 2022 following his 2020 conviction over RM42 million from SRC International, with his 12-year term later halved by the Pardons Board to end in August 2028.
  • Najib’s defense team said it will file an appeal against the house arrest decision.
  • A separate Kuala Lumpur High Court verdict due December 26 will decide four corruption charges and 21 money-laundering counts tied to about RM2.2 billion from 1MDB.
  • Malaysian and U.S. investigators say at least $4.5 billion was looted from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion traced to accounts linked to Najib, a saga that analysts say tests Malaysia’s resolve on anti-corruption.